Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon: The Partnership Behind an Exceptional Napa Valley Wine
WWMD – What would Margaret drink?
Margaret Pearman, a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, curates the acclaimed wine program at Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte. This month she explores how great wines are born from partnerships built on trust, friendship and shared passion.
How friendship and collaboration shape an exceptional Napa Valley Cabernet
In wine, much of the attention naturally falls on the winemaker — the visionary whose name often appears on the label and whose craft shapes the final bottle. But behind every exceptional wine is another equally important figure whose work begins long before fermentation: the vineyard manager.
Few wines illustrate this relationship better than Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon, a Napa Valley Cabernet born from the longstanding friendship between vineyard manager Matt Hardin and acclaimed winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. Their contrasting personalities have become one of the secrets behind the wine’s success. Hardin is known for his energetic, larger-than-life personality, while Brown brings a quieter, more analytical approach to the craft. Together their differences create a collaboration built on balance and mutual respect.
A seventh-generation vineyard farmer, Hardin has spent his life mastering the art of growing exceptional fruit. His expertise goes far beyond farming, requiring a deep understanding of climate, soil composition, vine health and the countless variables that influence grape quality. Brown, widely regarded as one of Napa Valley’s premier winemakers, takes that carefully cultivated fruit and transforms it into something extraordinary through precision, instinct and years of experience.
What truly sets Caterwaul apart is the friendship behind it. Rather than operating independently, Hardin and Brown collaborate closely throughout every stage of production, from decisions made in the vineyard to blending choices in the cellar. Their mutual respect allows each to challenge and elevate the other, resulting in wines that showcase remarkable balance, complexity and a true sense of place.
Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon serves as a reminder that great wine is rarely the product of one individual. It is the result of partnership — proof that, much like the best friendships, remarkable things happen when talent and trust work in harmony.
Don’t let the wild label fool you. Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon delivers rich, dark fruit, polished tannins and serious Napa structure, all born from a remarkable partnership and priced around $60.
